THE king has pledged to unite the people, no matter in how small a way, as well as to help them in every possible way.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah said it was indeed no easy task being the king as he was entrusted with the duty of uniting a multi-racial society with diverse views and opinions.

“I feel that the tasks and responsibilities have become heavier. If it is only being the Sultan of Pahang, I might have a good grasp of everything, but when appointed as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, it is indeed a different story. I have to learn so many things that I know nothing about.

“I personally never thought that I would have to read a lot of government papers and sign so many letters and instruments, which are part of the king’s duties.

“Hence, I hope no matter how small the step I’m taking, I will continue uniting the people and I will do my level best to reach out to the people and to assist them in every possible way,” he said, after attending thanksgiving prayers on the first anniversary of his ascension to the Pahang throne, at Istana Negara yesterday.

Earlier, Al-Sultan Abdullah joined about 500 guests at maghrib prayer led by the Imam of Pekan Mosque Khairul Anuar Mohd Nor and solat hajat led by Pahang mufti Dr Abdul Rahman Osman.

The event was attended by four generations of the Pahang royal family, including children and grandchildren of Al-Sultan Abdullah, the late Paduka Ayahanda Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta´in Billah (Sultan Pahang V), the late Sultan Abu Bakar Ri’ayatuddin Al-Muadzam Shah (Sultan Pahang IV) dan the late Sultan Abdullah Al-Mu’tassim Billah (Sultan Pahang III). 

Al-Sultan Abdullah was proclaimed the sixth ruler of Pahang on January 15, 2019, to replace his ailing father Paduka Ayahanda Sultan Ahmad Shah who died on May 22 the same year. – Bernama, January 10, 2020.